Manuel Baquedano

Manuel Baquedano (1 January 1823-30 September 1897) was President of Chile from 29 to 31 August 1891, succeeding Jose Manuel Balmaceda and preceding Jorge Montt. He previously distinguished himself as a general during the Occupation of Araucania and the War of the Pacific, during which he led the capture of the Peruvian capital of Lima.

Biography
Manuel Jesus Baquedano Gonzalez was born in Santiago, Chile on 1 January 1823 to a family of Basque Spanish descent, and he rose to the rank of Lieutenant while serving in the War of the Confederation. He became a Captain in 1850 and took part in the quelling of the liberal revolution of 1851, and he suppressed the 1859 uprising in Concepcion. In 1868, he took part in the conquest of Araucania from the Mapuche chiefs, and he became a Brigadier-General in June 1876. Baquedano served as a cavalry general during the War of the Pacific, and, in 1881, he occupied the Peruvian capital of Lima after victories at Chorrillos and Miraflores. In March 1881, he triumphantly returned to Valparaiso, and he retired from military life in May. He served as an independent Senator for Santiago from 1882 to 1888 and for Colchagua from 1888 to 1894, and he briefly served as acting President from 29 to 31 August 1891 after the overthrow of Jose Manuel Balmaceda and before Jorge Montt assumed the presidency. He died in 1897.